"I knew a soft futon would be nice"

"You're right, blankets don't get tired in tents."

I was having breakfast in the dorm cafeteria. Since it is in the form of a buffet, I have quite a preference for what to eat for breakfast. While Coona eats meat, Anne is vegetable-centric, and I'm a balancer.

The Knights School allocates the first three days of the week to classes and hits the remaining four days on holiday and exploration of the underground labyrinth, so we have classes today.

I had a sumptuous meal at the tavern yesterday and then immediately disbanded it.

After that, I told him to assign it to rest, but unlike Anne, who had exactly finished the assignment after using the Demon Stone in the underground labyrinth, Kuna, who had been crushed every time, had not finished the assignment, and I was going to do the assignment tightly.

"Are you both having any problems with your health? It was our first exploration, so we need to be careful because there might be an invisible load on it."

In the case of the Seeker, there is also great mental stress. There are many things that can crumble because of you.

I'm as careful as I can be, but there's something I can't do.

"It's okay. I don't work out."

"Well, Kuna will be fine"

"What is it, its proper treatment!?

What, he's the kind of guy who survives a month in a deserted snow mountain when he's nine. It wouldn't be as farty as four days of exploration.

"How about Anne? I'm worried because you wouldn't be used to this sort of thing."

"It's okay. That's about it compared to the journey from when your father was executed to when he came to this city."

Anne gives a dry smile.

Right, does adversity make people stronger?

"Damn, that, Anne, eat this and get better!

Serve the orange that Kuna was taking for dessert on Anne's plate.

"It's harder the other way around to be concerned."

That's what I said in my mouth. Anne smiled bitterly and gave a soft look.

"Sauge looks more pale than that."

"If you ask me, my face is bright blue"

"Mine is just a lack of magic. I haven't recovered from using all my magic powers to purify the demonic stones of the boar's monster last night. My health sucks. But if you leave me alone, it'll heal."

Yes, after finishing helping with Coona's assignment, purifying the Demon Stone, it's pretty sloppy. It has even reduced physical abilities due to the depletion of magic.

Recovery will take until tomorrow morning.

It's noisier than usual when it comes to classrooms.

"Is something wrong?

Talk to one of the boys students.

"Ah, Mr. Sauge. Actually, there are rumors that transfer students are coming."

The reply returns with a pleasant voice.

When the school was just beginning, it had been distanced, but since I began to get a lot of questions after my underground labyrinth practice, I have become, inevitably, respected.

"Looks like an integration student is coming to the aristocratic class"

Another student supplemented the information.

"An embedded student? To this knight's school?

It's impossible.

It is impossible for this school to enroll in a way other than taking an entrance exam. There are no special provisions for the prestige of the sealed city of Erin.

"How?

"Rumor has it he was admitted because it was an integration from a knight's school in another sealed city,"

I see. Is it a special case because I passed the knighthood school with a regular exam at first? Then I can be convinced.

"Thanks. So, do you know who's coming?

When I asked the question, the boy student looked at Anne.

And I shook up.

"Now, as the royal sword guide. The eldest son of the Duke of Faylate, Lady Cranell Faylate."

Cranell.

I've met him in the game days. The impression at that time is that he is a seemingly honorable man, but an honest and pleasant man.

Looking more at Anne, she was gripping Kvar Beste, the demon sword hanging on her hips with a hard look.

"I wonder why you're here."

While I speak for myself, I realize the pointlessness of that crush.

There can be no reason why the royal sword guide, the man, should come all the way here but the demon sword Kvar Beste, the title of the strongest swordsman.

He came here to take Kvar Beste from Anne.

I put my hand and pong on Anne's shoulder.

"It's okay. The sword belongs to Anne. I won't let anyone take it. Whatever happens, I'll protect you."

If you do it badly, it can mean the king's life. From the sinner's daughter, take the demon sword, the symbol of the royal family. No wonder that happened.

No, is that hard to think about? It would be strange if Anne still had this sword. Perhaps, before Anne's father was executed, he left this sword on Anne, conditioned on something. It won't be easy to reverse that contract.

"…… thank you. Sauge. But because this is my problem"

"No, Anne will be weak without that sword. In that case, the party will lose its power. This is our problem."

"That's right. Anne, it smells like water. Let's do something about it."

"Thank you, Sauge, Kuna."

Anne brings tears to her eyes.

In the meantime, there was a noise of the classroom door opening flashly.

"Nice to meet you, gentlemen of the general class. My name is Cranell Feirate. Starting today, I will take care of you in the same study hall as you. Nice to meet you."

She greets her beautiful pale hair with a refreshing voice that Kranel often passes through.

Tight body and skinny but tight body. It's just a uniform, but it's an elegance drifting somewhere. From the female student, the coveted gaze is at him.

With such a gaze, he comes in a straight line in his graceful footsteps.

"Long time no see. Annelotta, how are you?

Cranell smiles and greets Anne with a dear greeting.

That's why it was unusual. It is impossible, such as when he, the great nobleman, turns his love to Anne, the daughter of the Duke of Oakrail, the greatest foul spot in the Kingdom of Corinne.

"Dear Ferrate-san, thank you for your attention."

"Oh, my God, such other manners. We fought the sword together, didn't we? You could use a lighter tone."

Cranell laughs strangely.

"I,” now, "am not noble. There is a difference of position."

"... that's sad. I can't believe Annelotta gave me that attitude. But I can't even just be sad. I have to deliver this letter to you."

Kranel gives a letter bearing the royal seal.

Tension increases. The life of an authentic king.

Anne opens the letter with a trembling hand and reads out its contents.

"… perform the reselection of the bearer of the Divine Sword Kvar Beste. A duel will be held between Clanell Feirate, Duke of Feirate's son, and Annelotta Oakler, daughter of the” former ”Duke of Oakrail, with the winner as the bearer of the Divine Sword Kvar Beste. The day and time shall be the month of fire, the seventh day of the week."

I'm stunned to hear that. Two months and a little later, you put on Kvar Beste to say it was a duel? Can we forgive this irrationality? I open my mouth in protest.

"Such a duel is a mess. Cranell, you're 18 this year. I was already in Knights School two years ago, and as far as I can tell, [G] has reached Rank 2. She's only 16 and hasn't been in school for a month. It's so unfair."

Yes, whoever thought of it had all the elements against Anne.

I wanted you to wait until Anne graduated. No, if I had at least six months, I could make him rank two.

The number Rank 2 in two months is impossible unless it crosses a dangerous bridge.

"I think so, too. But it's the king's life. It's painful, but I can't refuse."

Cranell had a deeply spicy expression. My thoughts on seeing that are thin. Its reputation, its voice, everything is faint.

"Annelotta, the duel takes place in the dueling grounds of the Kingdom of Corinne. I'm sure you'll be made a spectacle. You'll get terrible wildness.... I don't want to see you hurt. abstain."

Cranell overlaps words that worry Anne.

"Just let go of Kvar Beste, you don't have to be hurt. You wouldn't be bothered, would you? Besides, this is how I got to see you. I'll help you. It's okay, I'll make you happy."

Cranell says so, gently embracing Anne.

"It would have been hard. But from now on, I'll protect you. So throw the crap away. Yeah, I'll get you a new name. Drop the oak rail and be just Annelotta. I can do that. Yeah, let's do that. I promise I won't give you a hard time for the rest of your life."

Cranell's embrace is stronger.

Cranell gets more and more excited by himself. At first glance, this guy is making it look like he's talking about Anne, but in the end he only sees himself.

"So come with me... Anne"

It would be to convey my feelings for her that Klanel called her Anne, not Annelotta.

Anne's body stifles.... and opened his mouth with a crisp expression.

"Disgusting. I wonder if you could let me go. Besides, I don't remember allowing you to call me Anne. Only close people can call it that."

"A, Nne?

The moment Cranell's powers fall out, Anne pops him out and escapes the embrace.

"I'm glad you said it for me. But I refuse. Dump Kvar Beste, dump Oak Rail. Such a thing is not me anymore. I'd rather die than live like that. I don't need that cheap sympathy."

Anne lifts up her voice.

"That's terrible. I said it for you."

The words touched my mind.

"If you're really saying it for her, you can abstain."

Yes, if you really think of Anne as a friend, you can do that.

"Who told you to open your mouth, civilian?"

"This, excuse me. Lordship."

Cranell gives me a toothpick when I look like I'm falling back.

"Well, what is it? Think about what I said, Anne."

"I thought I told you not to call me Anne?

"Annelotta. You should be calm. You really think you can beat me? I looked into you. [M] I didn't improve my rank at all when I started school. The arm of the sword overtook you. There is no master of the sword to grow from. There's not a single element you can beat me."

Cranell makes his voice rough.

But Anne was calm.

"As for rank, yes. But I'll correct you for the sword. I have the best sword master in the world."

"The best in the world? Where is that?

"Here it is. Sauge is the best swordsman in the world. I believe in the sword of Sauge."

Cranell looks at me with a decent face.

And I laughed so hard holding my belly.

"Ha, don't joke about it. Such a poor civilian is the best swordsman in the world? It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. Poor Annelotta. You are fooled by this man. [M] Ha ha."

Cranell laughs a little. And after I finished laughing, I looked straight at me.

And take off your white gloves and slap them at my feet

"Hey, civilians. You seem to be the cause of Annelotta's mistake. I'll fix you there first. That way, Annelotta will listen to me honestly, too. It's a duel. I'll prove you're just a fraud."

"Sauge has nothing to do with this."

"I am noble. You, the civilian, have no right to refuse my orders. Not to mention that you can't be qualified to teach Annelotta a sword, not to mention a hipster who refuses to fight the knight proudly."

I see, it's funny. That's not a bad story. I can create a situation somewhat favorable to Anne.

"I don't mind the duel itself. But it's a battle that doesn't benefit me. There's no way that nobles can cause civilian opponents and not take any risks on themselves, is there?

"What do you want"

"If I win, abstain from the duel that determines the ownership of the Devil's Sword"

"In case I don't lose, I can't. As a knight, you can never just run away from a duel"

Well, did you try to make Anne do that?

"Then, if I win, I'll get the sword you're hanging on your hips. Let Anne bet on Kvar Beste. You'd be prepared for that, too, wouldn't you?

"You just called Anne and, Anne!?

"Sauge is my master. Of course."

"Not even me, you can't!

"So, what do you think? Don't you have the nerve to bet your sword? Then I won't take this duel. Anyway, you don't deserve a knight. It's just a mess. There's nothing more to be proud of than that they're not knights. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with saying no. Don't you?"

"What the hell!? If you bet your sword, you'll get a duel, right? You don't have two words for that!

"I promise."

Cranell's sword is a famous sword made of misrills. I thought it was time to refill the misrill and it was just fine.

Besides, if you keep your love sword away, it will be Anne's support. The same sword does not exist in weight, center of gravity, size, or perfection. The more top-notch you become, the slighter difference blunts your senses.

If we take the sword here, it will be difficult for Cranell to buy a new sword and make it confuse by the time he fights Anne.

"... you know the value of this sword and you're saying it! But, okay. Instead, if I win, let Annelotta abstain from the duel."

"I can't do that. Anne decides. It's not something I can decide."

"Then swear that if you lose, it will never involve Annelotta again!

"Then I don't mind. I swear."

"Duel on that condition."

"The date and time is after tomorrow's class, okay?"

If you do, you will recover your magic in time. You can fight as hard as you can.

"I don't mind. Don't run, civilians."

"Of course."

That's how the duel between me and Cranell came to pass.

"Damn, dammit, dammit, dammit, that woman, she doesn't always do what I think she does."

In the carriage, Cranell was throwing up a bad state and hitting his fist against the side table.

I told him I was ill, I was off class, and I was headed to a different house in the Faylate family in the sealed city of Erin.

"Because of this, because of this, this me! I had pity on you! Damn, you embarrassed me. You're rejecting my suggestion? Don't you dare lick me when such a civilian is the most powerful swordsman in the world!

Cranell's voice had almost turned into a yelling voice.

"Please calm down. Fong."

An old butler deceives Cranell.

"Can you stay calm! Yes, Anne always does. You know what it's like to lose a match in front of a king to a woman who beats me and two younger women!? Yep!?

Yes, Cranell hated Anne from the bottom of his heart.

At the age of twelve, a friendly match took place between Ferrathe and Oakrail.

In that outpost, Klanel and Anne, who are responsible for each next generation, fought.

As a result, the twelve-year-old Klanel lost to 10-year-old Anne. I won't forget Cranell. The mockery of the audience at that time, the dismay of his father, the mourning of his mother.

"You can't just win a duel! Twisting in front of the masses is fun, but when it's over in such a flash, I'm unsatisfied. I'll make it my toy for the rest of my life, I'll keep it. Take everything, lock it up, and don't let anyone see you but me. If you don't listen to me, I won't eat. [M] Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh he

To that end, Cranell suggested protecting Anne.

But he didn't even realize it. Deep in his desire is his vision of beauty for Anne waving the sword. That it's a love affair for Anne that sprouted up in that fight.

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it. If you defeat that civilian, I'm sure Anne will wake up too. And then, listen to me, Anne, hahahahahahahahahahaha."

The carriage runs away with Cranell laughing.

And he didn't realize one more thing. He was being watched.

"Yeah, I thought it would be interesting, but maybe I missed my expectations. With that level of trinket, you won't be able to beat Sauge. But maybe you'll lose and hate him. Then it becomes an easy pawn to handle. Uh-huh, boar failed. We have been able to verify the arbitrary purification of abnormal individuals, but to that extent it is not even a test. Can we use him to create a little more decent trials? I have to think about it."

At the end of the day, the watchman disappears. Just leave Len and his shining emerald eyes.